Machine for applying transfers



Jan. '3, 1950 K. H. BROWNLE 2,493,523

MACHIN Fon y'LPPLYING mmn'sr.-*r-:ns

Filed March 6, 1946 7 Shelets-Sheet 1 K. H. BROWNLEE MACHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFERS Jan. 3, 1950 '7 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Filed March 6'. 1946 Ml HHMIM im Jan. 3, 1950 K. H. BRowNLl-:E 1 2,493,523

MACHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFERS Filed urch e, 19:46-

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 MN WIN Q N Ll@ Jan. 3, 1950 K. H. BRowNLl-:E

MACHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 6", 1946 \\N1 NN Jan., 3, 1950 K. H. BRowNLEE MACHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed march e. 194e 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 N mw @@Nw. w L @vf N Q @GQ/QMQQ/QQQ/QQQM@ Q @Q GMI@ Q @@QQQ QH@ N NW NW NW Jan. 3, 1950 Filed March I6. 1946 Jan. 3, 1950 K. H. BRowNLEE- 2,493,523

MACHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFERS Filed March 6. 1946 'T Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Jan. 3, 1950 MACHINE FOR APPLYING TRANSFERS Kenneth H. Brownlee, Skokie, Ill., assignor to The Meyercord Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 6, 1946, Serial No. 652,429

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a machine for applying transfers and, more particularly, to a machine adapted to apply a plurality of transfers simultaneously to a plurality of articles.

By the word transfen as used herein, I mean a transferable imprint, such as a decalcomania, or the like. I do not limit myself to any particular kind of imprint or decalcomania, it being sufficient for the purposes of my present invention that the transfer shall be removable from the usual backing or supporting sheet and affixed to the object upon which it is desired that the transfer shall appear.

It is quite common to supply revenue stamps, trade-mark stickers, identification labels, and the like, in the form of decalcomania which may be removed from a backing sheet by moistening or by the application of heat and applied to the objects singly. The labor cost of this procedure is often an item of considerable importance and I it is desirable, therefore, to provide mechanism whereby the application may be made automatically and in large quantities simultaneously.

In my copending application, Serial Number 573,250, filed January 17, 1945, I have shown a machine for applying revenue stamps, in the form of decalcomania, to all the cigarette packages in a carton simultaneously. The invention of the present application is a machine of the same general character having many features of advantage over the form shown in said earlier application.

For purposes of illustration, I have again chosen to show my invention as embodied in a machine for applying revenue stamps to cigarette packages. To those skilled in the art, the application of my invention for other purposes will readily be apparent.

Because of simplicity of application, I have shown my machine as adapted for use with heat transferable decalcomania, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Broadly stated, my present invention has for its object to provide a machine for accurately and rapidly applying decalcomania to a plurality of articles simultaneously, the arrangement being such that the decalcomania may be selectively removed from a backing sheet having a plurality of groups of decalcomania arranged thereon in a manner to register with the articles to which they are to be affixed.

A further object is to provide a machine having applyingr means arranged to be shifted either manually or automatically so as to operate upon a selected group of decalcomania.

Another object is to provide a machine having means for feeding the decalcomania sheet either manually or automatically so as to position a plurality of groups of decalcomania for selective application to groups of articles.

Other objects of the invention and the many advantages thereof will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

For illustrative purposes, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention in which the paper feed and shift of the applying means are accomplished manually and another form in which these operations are performed automatically. I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction shown in these drawings as modifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in the art which may be advantageously employed without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the relative position of the applying means and the packages when one group of transfers is being removed from the backing sheet and aixed to the packages;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 7, showing the applying means shifted to position to apply a second group of transfers to a second group of packages; i

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 8, showingA the applying means shifted to apply a third group of transfers to a third group of packages;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modification of my invention, including automatic means for feeding the transfers and for shifting the applying means;

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of the ratchet for controlling movement of the applying means;

Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of the ratchet for controlling movement of the paper feeding means; f

Fig. 13 is a View in section taken substantially on line I3-I3 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan View of a transfer carrying sheet showing the arrangement of the transfers thereon;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the paper feed roll and the controlling ratchets and pawls;

Fig. 16 is a View in elevation of the ratchets and pawls, as seen on line II-II of Figfl; and

Fig. 1'7 is a view similar to Fig. 16, but showing the position of the ratchets and pawlswhen only the applying means is being shifted. r

Referring now tothe drawings," my machine comprises a box having a bottom I, side walls 2, and a front wall 3, hinged to the bottom at 4. Said front wall 3 has a cover portion 5 overlying a part of the top of the box. The rear wall of the box is indicated by the reference numeral 6.

A guide chute 'I for the` packages or articles to be marked extends through Vthe box and beyond the side walls thereof. The entering end of said chute may be outwardly flared as at 8 to facilitate insertion of the packages or articles and the exit end may be tapered as at 9 to facilitate removal.

lBecause this illustrative embodiment of my invention is designed for the application of revenue stamps to the individual 'cigarette packages in a carton, the v'chute'I is proportioned so Vas to accommodate that kind of container'and'the widthV of the box is substantially the length of an ordinaryv cigarette carton. Y

`A` cover plate II) is pivotally' and slidably mounted on a shaft or rod IIextending between the sidewalls 2. VThe cover plate I is provided with a suitable handle 'I2 by'which it may be (from leftto right, as Yviewed in the drawings)V and the extent of Vsuch lateral shifting' is determined by the'spacing of the revenueV stamps, Yas will presently be described. It is sufficient now to point out that when the pin I5 is inthe position shown in Fig. 5 the cover may be shiftedY to the right and the said pin I5 will move downwardly in the first Vof the inclined guide grooves I6. When the cover is raised again, Ysaid pin I5 may 'be Vmoved in the second of the inclined grooves I6 and'thus the cover shifted to a third position;l f VWithin the'sidewalls 2 and at the rear of the box,v I providepbearings Afor a Yspool `or rollerIl Vcontaining aV roll of revenue stampsl'fTokeep the spool vfrom over-riding and to assures'mooth and uniform feed'of Vthe stampsy'I may provide suitableV spring brakes I8 bearing against the spool, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

i'Ihestamp sheet used with my present machine is V'preferably of the kind disclosedY in my copending application,-Serial Number 590,450;'filed April 26, 1945. `That is gtorsay, a backingA sheetV of paper is impregnated or coated with a suit'- able -waxeor the like having aV relatively low melting point.v 1 The transfers or stamps are printed on the Wax coated surface of thebacking sheet 4and are removed therefrom by the application 4 of heat suflicient to melt the Wax and release the transfers which will then adhere to any surface to which they are applied.

In the drawings, the backing sheet I9 is shown as extending from the supply roll I1 forwardly over the open top of the guide chute 'I to a takeup spool or roller journaled in the side walls 2 Vat the front of the box. The roller 20 has a suitable manually operable knob 2I extending beyond one of the side walls 2, by the operation of which the web of backing sheet may be drawn from the supply roll to present 'the sets of transfers or stamps in applying position over the open end ofA the chute, l. After all the transfers or stamps in applying position have been removed, the knob 2I is turned to draw the following sets of transfersinto position, while the portion of the backing sheet which has been cleared is wound up on the take-up roll or spool 20.

The arrangement of the transfers or stamps on the' backing `sheetis shown in Fig. 6, and is the same as that shown in my aforementioned copendingY application, Serial Number 590,450. It is understood that the cigarette packages to which the stamps areV to be applied are arranged in a carton in two rows of ve packages each. This is the usual arrangement and it is with that in mind th'attheA stamps or transfers are placed on the backing sheet I9. A

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated the stamp sheet in position over the open top of the chute 'I and a carton of cigarette packages is shown in dotted lines below the sheet. The stamps are arranged inY pairs, 22, 23 and 24, and there are five pairs of each' number, thusY Vproviding sufficient stamps for three cartons. In this figure, the heating elements 25 are shown asoverlying the pairs of stamps 22 so that in the operation presently to be described stamps will be transferred to each of the tenpackages'in aV carton simultaneously.

Thereafter, the heating elements may be moved to register with the pairs of stamps 23 so as to apply them to the packages in a second' carton; and finally, the heating elements are shiftedove'r to register with the pairs of stamps`24 which are to be aixed to theV packages ina third carton.

venient source through asutable conductorBIi.y There are ve such heating elements and ,byY

reason of the laterally shifting'movementof'the cover plate IIJ they vmay be brought into registry with any of the pairs of stamps 22, 23 or 24 ac'-A cording to the choice of the operator.

The operation' of the foregoing'd'escribed ma r` chine is as follows: Y

Theveover pme lo normauy is hemy in Ythe open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 by the springs I3; thus permitting access to the interior of the box. YA roll of transfers orstamps I1 is inserted in vbearings provided therefor and the end of the web I9 is drawn nacross theopen top of the chute 1. 'Ihe cover portion 5 ofthe front Vwall is raised by swinging about the hinge 4; thus exposing the interior of the front ofthe box.' 'The end of the web I9 isV wound upon Ythetake-up spool or roller 20 which is given a few turns by" operation of the knob 2I` until the first` sets'of stamps on the ba-cking'sheet are in proper positionabove the chute 1. 'I'he front cover yplate is then closed by moving it into the position shown in Fig. 3. The machine is now ready for operation and the conductor 26 is connected to a convenient source of electric current.

IA carton of cigarette packages is now opened so as to expose either the tops or bottoms of the packages and the carton is placed in the chute 1 and pushed along until the exposed packages come ldirectly under the stamp sheet I9. .It is understood, of course, that the stamps are on the under surface of the sheet I9 so that they may be brought into direct contact with the exposed ends of the packages to which they are to be applied.

From here on, the explanation of the operation will best be understood by reference to Figs. '7, 8 and 9. In Fig. '1, a carton 21 containing packages 28 is shown in position and the cover plate I has been brought down so as to press the heating elements against the top of the sheet I9 and in registry with the pairs of stamps 22, shown in Fig. 6. The heat of the heating elements melts the wax coat on the sheet I9, thus releasing the stamps 22 which thereupon adhere to the ends of the packages 28. As will be understood, the stamps may be coated with a suitable heat responsive adhesive, as described in my said application, Serial Number 590,450.

A second opened carton 29 is now entered in the chute 1 and pushed along into stamp-applying position. In so doing, the carton 29 pushes the previous carton 21 out of the machine. In Fig. 8, I have shown one end of the machine with the vcarton 29 and its packages 3II in position to have stamps applied thereto. The cover plate I0 has been raised and shifted laterally, as heretofore explained, so as to bring the heating elements 25 into registry with the pairs of stamps 23. (See Fig. 6.) The heating elements 25 are now pressed against the top of the sheet I9 and said pairs of stamps 23 will leave the backing sheet and adhere to the packages 39.

A third opened carton 3| is now entered into the chute 1 and pushed along until the exposed ends of its packages 32 are in position to have stamps applied thereto. In so doing, the carton 3| pushes the carton 29 out of the machine. The said carton 3| is shown in position in Fig. 9. The cover plate I0 is again shifted vlaterally so that the heating elements 25 are brought into registry with the pairs of stamps 24. (See Fig. 6.) The heating elements are now pressed against the top of the stamp sheet I9 whereupon the stamps 24 are released from the backing sheet and affixed to the packages 32. At the end of this operation, all of the groups of stamps 22, 23 and 24 have been removed from the `backing sheet I9 and new sets of stamps will be brought into applying position by turning the knob 2|.

It will be understood, of course. that the sets of stamps need not be applied in the order described. The position of the stamps and the applying means yare readily observed by the operator who can select at will the sets of stamps for removal.

It may be desirable to provide the under side of the cover plate III with presser elements 33 located between the heating elements 25 as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. These elements 33 will protect the sets of stamps that are awaiting application from the heat of the elements 25 and they also tend to assure an even contact with the stamp sheet and the exposed ends of the packages.

" 3e mounted on VVthe shaft 4u.

The machine .thus `far described is constructed for manual .shifting of the heating elements .and

manual feeding of thestamp sheet. These func-` The web of backing sheet 36 passes upwardly under a pressure roller 31 and across the open top of the chute 1. Suitable guide and tension rods or rollers 3B may be located at each side of the chute 1 and near the top thereof.

The web 36 passes rearwardly to a feed drum The drum 39 is provided with pins or projections 4I (see Fig. 13) which are arranged to enter holes 42 in the backing sheet 36 (see Fig. 14). The shaft 40 is provided with a knob, or knobs, 43 extending beyond the side walls of the box and by turning these knobs, the feed roll 39 may be manually rotated so as accurately to position the stamps when operation is initiated. They also permit manual operation .at any time should the automatic means fail properly to position the stamps.

In this form ofthe invention, the cover plate 44 is :pivotally mounted on the shaft 40 by lugs or side plates 45. The cover plate 44 carries on fits under side a pawl 46 arranged to actuate two ratchets 41 and 48 which are mounted on the shaft 49.

The ratchet 41 (see Fig. 12) is the paper feeding ratchet-for operating the feed drum 39. This ratchetis provided with six notches 49, all of the same depth. The arrangement is such that whenever the pawl 46 enters one of said notches the ratchet v41 will be rotated counter-clockwise (see Figs. 16 and 17) one-sixth revolution. By this means the feed roll is rotated counter-clockwise to draw the web 36 from the supply roll 35 and 'thus present new sets of stamps in applying position above the open top of the chute 1. But since there are three sets of stamps for removal while the sheet remains stationary, it is required that the pawl 46 shall actuate the ratchet 41 only every third timethe cover plate 44 is raised. This isy accomplished by an arrangement presently to.

be described.

Journaled in the front end of the cover plate 44 is a roller 50 which is provided with three sets of heating elements 5I, 52 and 53. All of these heating elements are heated electrically by a suitable electric resistance heating coil 54 located within the roller.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 13, there are tive such heating elements on each face of the roller and they are so spaced as to register with the stamps shown in Fig. 14. This arrangement is such that, when the roller 50 is rotated, a selected set of heating elements, 5I, 52 or 53, may be brought into registry with the corresponding stamps on the stamp sheet 3 6.

The said roller 50 is rotated automatically in order to present the selected set of heating elements in applying position. The automatic mechanism comprises the ratchet 48, heretofore described, which is mounted on the shaft 40 and is actuated by the pawl 46 carried by the cover plate 44. As will be seen in Fig. 11, the ratchet low and two notches'56 are relatively deep. It

is Yalsonoted that the ratchet 48 is` of vslightly greater diameter vthan the ratchet 41. It follows from this construction that theoperating pawl 46 Will actuate the ratchet 48 each time the cover plate 44 is raised, whether the pawl engages one` of the shallow notches 55 or one 4of the deeperl notches B. However, whenthepawl 46 engages one` of the deeper notches 56, it 'will also enter into one of the notches 49 .on the ratchet 41. (See Fig. 16;) Therefore, the paper feed ratchetv 41 Will be actuated only when the -pawl 46 enters the deep notches 55 in the ratchet 43. Theresult is that the paper feed ratchet 41 is actuated only every third time that Vthe cover plate is raised.

This is so that all three sets ofhe'ating elements may be used, each for removing vone of the sets of` stamps, and when all three sets ofthe stamps have been removed, thus leaving the backing sheet clear, the feed mechanism just above described will come into play to draw an additional lengthv of the web 36 from the supplyroll 35 andithus position three new sets of stamps for application. The endv of the web 36 which'has been cleared of stamps leaves the boX through an opening 56` at the back'thereof.

'It will be observed also that, when the pawl 46 is riding on the surface of the ratchet 48, it will not contact the ratchet 41 which is of Vsmaller diameter. (See Fig. 17.) Also, when the pawl 46 entersone of the shallow'notches 55 of the ratchet 48, the pawl will still not engageany of the notches in the ratchet 41. The engagement of the pawl in notches in both ratchets occursA only when the said pawl enters the deep notches element roller 50 through suitablei interveningv gears 6l'. When the gear 59 is rotated by move` ment of the ratchet 48 through the pawl 45, the intervening gears 6| cause a corresponding rota# tion of the gear 60 so that the heating'element r roller 5t is turned suciently to present a' set of heating elements in position to transfer the stamps. Y,

By three operations of the coverplate 44, three setsV of'stamps on the Ybacking sheet36 will be removed Vtherefrom through the'application of heat, each fset being" acted 'upon by a diii'erent one of the sets of heating'elements. The web 36-is then drawn throughy the machineV by the feed drum .'39 a sufficient distance to place the succeeding sets 'of stamps. in applying position.

-As in the description ofthe operation of vthe first embodiment, the' operator will manually in'-l sert the cartons into the chute 1, Vand each succeeding carton will lpush themarked carton 'out of the machine. The'machine of this modified form 'diners from the'rst described embodiment in that I have provided automatic 'means for advancingrthe Istamp sheet through the machine and automatic means for placing a selected group of heating elements in stamp applying position. These two automaticmeans are so related that the sequence of operations is automatically performed; thatis to s ay, for each stamp transfer, a diiferent set of heating elements is used and after'three such operations, the stamp sheet is advanced, and the cycle is repeated.

t Each form of my invention presents a marked improvement over presentpractices and will result in great economy where large quantities of articles areto'have revenue stamps or trade-mark labelsafxed. My machines are simple in construction and operation and require but little skillv on the part of the operator.

'I claim asmy invention: Y'

ln a machine for applying transfers to groups of articles simultaneously, means for moving groups of transfers into applying position, a movable cover carrying a plurality of applying means, means operated by movement of said cover for moving said applying means into applying position, and means operable by movement of'said cover after each of said applying means has perf formed an applying operation for moving addi'- tional groups of transfers into applying position.

i KENNETH H. BROWNLEE,

,REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the leof thisypatertt:l Y

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 

